Reaching even higher heights in this latest reincarnation, the long-running and much-loved Canon 5D series has received new life in the form of the incredible Mark IV. Despite looking almost identical to its predecessor, the Canon 5D Mark IV has received many upgrades, boasting a wide variety of sought-after features. The value and versatility found within this particular camera have allowed it to become a favorite amongst enthusiasts and professionals alike. For those seeking a higher-end camera, things can’t get much better than the Canon 5D Mark IV. Take a look at the features, pros, cons, and specs, and see if you agree.
Canon 5D Mark IV Review
While largely staying true to its form compared to Canon 5D predecessors, the Mark IV comes with some minor tweaks to its design that are of note. Although not particularly known for its weatherproof body, due to the increased number of seals and gaskets, definite improvements have been made in the Mark IV’s weather sealing, particularly around the lens mount, battery door, and shutter button. The body is also slightly lighter by approximately ten-percent, allowing it to feel quite comfortable in the hand.
Users upgrading from Mark III to the Canon 5D Mark IV will likely notice, and appreciate the difference. The controls on both the top and back of the camera keep to the theme of minimal design changes. Although, a new AF area selection button has been added to the back of the camera directly below the AF joystick. This addition provides an excellent way to quickly change focus area modes; however, if this is not suitable for all users, the function of the button itself can be programmed for another use.
A major highlight of the Canon 5D Mark IV is its sizable LCD touchscreen monitor. Jumping in the resolution of 1.04m-dot from the Mark III, the Mark IV has a 1.62m-dot, 3.2-inch screen. While maintaining the same screen size, the touchscreen portion of the monitor has users going wild, as it now features a touchscreen with extensive functions in a full-frame body — somewhat groundbreaking for Canon, as previous models failed to have the touch capabilities accessible in all shooting modes.
Further, the Canon 5D Mark IV maintains use of the same LP-E6N Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery used in the past, estimating an average of 900 shots per charge, or approximately 300 shots in live view. Many users tend to opt for a better battery grip in the form of the BG-E20, which is priced at $349.
The image quality of the Canon 5D Mark IV is impressive, offering a 30.4MP full-frame sensor as compared to the 22.3MP of the Mark III, and the ISO range spans from 50 – 102400. The Mark IV offers a 7 fps burst rate, exceeding that of its high-resolution peers. A 30 fps effective burst rate with Dual Pixel AF is also achievable. Upgrades to the autofocus system include that of the iTR (Intelligent Tracking and Recognition), which allows for the tracking of moving subjects, regardless of where they move within the frame, a function made possible by the new 150,000-pixel RGB metering sensor. Further, video capture now tops out at 4K at 30 fps, 1920×1080 at 60 fps, or 1280×720 at 120 fps. All of these functions work together to make the Canon 5D Mark IV a true workhorse of its kind.
One of the most incredible updates to the Canon 5D Mark IV is the Dual Pixel AF, a phase-detection AF sensor for viewfinder shooting. It’s unique in the sense that this is the fist time Dual Pixel AF has been made available to a full-frame sensor while offering Servo AF for stills as well, meaning that the accuracy of the AF can be captured in both live view video, as well as stills shooting. Because of this, the viewfinder of the Mark IV tends to be ignored, as the monitor offers more extensive coverage and a high level of accuracy. For example, you can easily select your subject with a simple tap to the screen or jump instantly between detected faces by simply moving the joystick.
Equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, the Canon 5D Mark IV can be used in combination on a smartphone or tablet with the Canon Connect app. NFC, also known as Near-Field Communication, allows the pairing between the camera and a smart device to be simple, even on Apple devices, which lack the ability to use NFC. Once the camera has been paired with a smart device, the app allows users to view and transmit images. Although considered a useful feature by most users, the app doesn’t allow for much control over the camera, except for exposure parameters. Upgrades to this feature are anticipated but until then, the overall function of the app is something that users can either take or leave.
Canon 5D Mark IV Specs
• 1.62m-dot, 3.2” LCD touchscreen monitor.
• 30.4MP full frame CMOS sensor with dual pixel AF for video or live view.
• 7 fps continuous shooting.
• ISO 100 – 32000, extended to 102400, down to 50.
• 6.1-point AF system with 41 cross-type sensors.
• EV -3 AF sensitivity, EV -4 for live view.
• DIGIC 6+ image processor.
• 150,000-pixel RGB+IR, 252 zone metering sensor.
• DCI 4K 30/24p video using Motion JPEG + 4K Frame Grab.
• Built-in interval timer and bulb timer.
• Dual memory card slots for CF (UDMA Mode 7) and SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I).
• USB 3.0 for image and video transfer and tethering.
• Wi-Fi with NFC + GPS.
Canon 5D Mark IV Pricing and Extras
The body-only configuration for the Canon 5D Mark IV is priced at $3,499. Two lens configurations are also available: one with a 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens for $4,399 and one with a 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens for $4,599.
The Canon 5D Mark IV is a near-perfect camera and certainly one of the best options for both the professional and the enthusiast. With its improved weatherproof body, faster burst speed, and even better autofocus, the Canon 5D Mark IV is far superior to its predecessors. While not completely groundbreaking in terms of image resolution and processing, the overall build is of the utmost quality. Let us know your thoughts on the Canon 5D Mark IV and its improvements!
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